New Homes: Time to hail a CAB
Auckland’s first skyscraper reaches new heights as a luxury apartment complex, writes CATHERINE SMITH
It has not been the speediest of project takeoffs, but John Love, of husband and wife team Love and Co, is confident about what his project, The CAB, in Auckland city’s civic quarter, is going to do.
“We’re redefining this part of town,” he says. “It’s not just one building, it’s a whole precinct, almost the same size as the convention centre.”
The first part of the project, a complete overhaul and re-fit of the former Auckland Council head offices on Aotea Square, has been in the works for well over two years but is now alive with activity.
The iconic Tibor Donner building, finished in 1966, was Auckland’s first skyscraper. Love says it was massively over engineered and there are not many buildings of this quality in the city.
Love and Co’s refurbishment has stripped the building back to the original steel frames, retaining the stylish stairwells and roof top terraces, then adding new concrete floors and replacing the original curtain walls with double-glazed glass that replicates the original.
As with the original build, Love was determined to use an all-New Zealand supply chain, from architects Jasmax, engineers Beca to builders Naylor Love.
The kitchens are built-in locally, creating in Love’s words “a real differentiator”.
“We’re very old school, people get a way better product, even if they can’t see it.”
The master planned precinct completes what has been a dead corner where Aotea Square meets Mayoral Dr.
The former mess of trade entrances and pedestrian barriers will have three new buildings (piles and foundations for car parks are underway) that include mixed housing and commercial, a high quality hotel, restaurants and a supermarket, and plenty of street activation.
“It’s redefining city living.
We’re moving away from shoe boxes to high quality, practical luxury.
“Like every modern city around the world, people are living close to the city centre, close to the heart of arts and culture and 10 minutes from Britomart or Ponsonby.
But Love says the CAB has a special quality close to the old town hall building and greenery surrounding it, as well as the fantastic views from the tower.
The mix of floor plans gives owners a choice of two or three bedrooms, some with studies, some with loggia for indoor outdoor living, with sizes that range from 45sq m to over 246sq m for the penthouse and sub-penthouse. The larger two bedroom apartments have
It’s redefining city living. We’re moving away from shoe boxes to high quality, practical luxury.
options for car parking. “This is a hidden gem. At 20 storeys , it was the first skyscraper in New Zealand, and there’s only one first — that’ll never change.”
Sale: Prices start from $620,000 for a one-bed apartment, $828,000 for a twobed and $1.685m for three-bed.
Contact: George Erdos, Ray White, 021 959 331, Casey Chen 021 368 811